Closer Look: Corsair Vengeance K90

The Corsair Vengeance K90 with its black and aluminum finish could be at the center of a very modernistic looking work area.

The Corsair Vengeance K90 is quite a large keyboard measuring 20" x 6" with a full set of 18 programmable keys on the left and brushed aluminum faceplate covering the keyboard on the right.

The bottom of the K90 is not notable and other than a couple of information stickers the only thing of interest on the K90 is the four rubber feet that hold the hold the it in place quiet well when combined with its weight. If user would like to raise up the rear of the K90 they also have the option to add about 1/2" of height to the rear of the K90 for a better typing experience.

The K90 has dedicated media controls that allow users to stop, play/pause, move forward or backwards in a song, and to adjust their volume or mute it. I love the roller used for adjusting volume as I find it gives better control than a button based solution provide.

The K90 uses three prebuilt memory options that can be customized to a user's need. Once the settings are made, users can save them to the keyboard and recall up to three of them at any point during the future. Furthermore, if users would like to they can actually record directly to the keyboard removing the need for any of software that may be need to be installed on the system.

This single picture sums up what is so special about the Corsair Vengeance K90. This is my first time reviewing a keyboard that uses the Cherry MX Red switches and I was quite excited to see what the performance characteristics of this linear non-clicky switch are. The Cherry MX Red switches have a linear action which means that unlike its Blue brethren the Red switches have a linear force profile compared to the tactile force profile of the Cherry MX Blue switches. Like the Blue switches each Red switch activates after 2mm through its full 4mm of range with only 45g of force required to actuate. Sadly, Corsair chose to not use Cherry MX Red switches for every key, and instead use rubber dome key switches on the G-Keys, and all of the function keys.

Comments

I would love to see a keyboard like this with an extra detachable dedicated FPS keypad (With an Ideazon Fang like lay-out). That would be perfect.

Virtually no keyboard manufacturer in existence realizes that FPS/RPG gaming needs more than just a bunch of extra keys slapped to the left or top.To me that is quite mysterious as FPS/RPG gaming is the major part of PC gaming. If corsair could offer me such a device I would be prepared to dish out a lot of money, I don't even care whether the board is mechanical or not.

As it is now I still use my old Ideazon Fang, but I fear one of these days this superb device will break down after many years of service. I am in for a nice modernized back-lit replacement and I am prepared to pay for it.

Companies are always looking for new ideas. You could try shooting your idea off to some of the major manufactures to see if they have something in the works or to show support for your idea if they are thinking about making such a device.

How could this be a new idea to them? They must be aware of what is going on in PC gaming? Everybody can see how awkward the standard WASD lay-out is.I can not image those keyboard producing companies really overlooking this. There must be no market for improvement or something.

To me the Ideazon Fang is a miracle device. It is such an gigantic step forward in comfortable ergonomic FPS gaming that I expected every keyboard manufacturer to jump on board and produce something competitive. There is still some room for improvement and modernization.

If I had known that Steelseries would stop production after the take-over I would have bought several Fangs for backup. I dread the day it will die on me.

Very good review Austin, you guys get to play with such royal hardware, makes people...you know ;) You gave 8.5 for construction. Was this for the use of rubber dome keys alone? Because this one seems to have very high construction quality and mostly uses quality materials. Also I would've liked to see you test this keyboard on something like Skyrim, where there were lots of scope of quick combos and key bindings. But i guess Mass Effect is a fine one too :)

@Andreas: I've heard about the Fang but never had the chance to play with it. IIRC, there was some incompatibility issues with newer games, with WOW mostly. Also the software was not the best in class. However, we shouldn't forget this is a Keyboard review, I mean a detachable gamepad might be a nice idea but if the main keyboard is junk it is not going to do much good.

"IIRC, there was some incompatibility issues with newer games, with WOW mostly. "-I assure you the Fang has no problems supporting WOW at all. Even without drivers it acts like a mini gaming keyboard with most used keys neatly and ergonomically grouped around the WASD keys.The Fang, without drivers, is able to support any game that runs on windows until hell freezes over. The only prerequisite is that windows keeps detecting the Fang as a basic keyboard.

In general though the support for the Fang (and Merc Stealth) software has deteriorated since Steelseries took over Ideazon.It is not a huge problem, because the Fang still can function without special drivers and software. But you do lose some of the cool remapping functions the Fang in principle is capable of. The software is actually quite good, but the lack of updates is causing the problems now.-"However, we shouldn't forget this is a Keyboard review, I mean a detachable gamepad might be a nice idea but if the main keyboard is junk it is not going to do much good."-But I agree wholeheartedly. That is why it would be great if a good keyboard manufacturer would create a modernized/upgraded high quality Fang-like device that could be attached to a high quality keyboard.

For example the Sidewinder X6 (I know it is not a mechanical keyboard, but it is still excellent quality) has a modular design. You can detach the numpad and click it onto the keyboard left or right, or leave it off, whatever you prefer. It is a unique concept that is great for what I have in mind, but apparently Microsoft does not realize the potential of their concept at all.If Microsoft would also build a Fang-like module that I could click onto the left or right side of the Sidewinder X6 I would be a very happy gamer indeed. For me that would be the ultimate FPS/RPG keyboard design. For the Fang module only I would be prepared to pay a 100 bucks without hesitation.

As an owner of X6, I can attest your statement about its build quality and flexible design. It was truly a very cool idea from Microsoft's HW design team, but sadly MS has discontinued those sidewinders and it's unlikely that we'll see any update soon (apparently they're too busy with 'Artist collection' touch mice!).

The Merc Stealth is my favorite keyboard. I loved how the keys were arranged, and agree that support for it isn't the best anymore. To their credit though, they did offer to sell me new keycaps for the Merc Stealth, but it required a paypal account which I'm not wiling to bother with just for some keycaps. I still have that keyboard here, but it's not being used. In it's place I have a Black Widow Ultimate and a Logitech G13. The G13 is OK, but I prefer the layout of the keys on the Merc Stealth. I also love the BW for typing.

I would pay $200 for a Merc Stealth that used mechanical key closures on ALL the keys, and a little more robust keycap material.

I have the Ideazon Merc Stealth as well. It is build like a brick, but I mean that in the best sense possible: It is an incredibly solid keyboard.

The reason I stopped using it and started using the Ideazon Fang instead, is because of the fact that I think the merging of the cursor keys and keypad keys on the right hand side is a huge mistake. For me it was fine when I was gaming, but when I was typing I got irritated by having to constantly use that damned switch key.

The Merc Stealth would have been perfect if it was constructed like any regular full keyboard on the right hand side with a full/normal cursor/keypad part.I even preferred the way the 'space/jump' and 'P1' buttons of the FPS pad were done on the Merc Stealth.

SO if they would build a Merc Stealth II with a normal cursor/keypad and mechanical keys I would buy it immediately. No.... I would buy TWO!

We FPS gamers are in dire need of a true perfect FPS keyboard. At the moment nobody is making one.Ideazon had it almost right with the Merc Stealth and the Fang and Steelseries should pick up on that, because they have a perfect product within reach.

I think people here are throwing out some pretty good ideas. I would love a modular keyboard that was all mechanical and looked like a regular keyboard when no modules were plugged into it. Make sure it has decent backlighting. I like Cherry Blue keys, but I suppose I could get along with just about any cherry key closures. Have a few modules available, one like the left side of the Merc Stealth with mechanical keys, one with a pattern of macro keys for MMORPG. Also make sure they're all well backlit. Make another with a small comfortable hand sized joystick and assorted buttons, with a throttle control and twist axis. Make the modules so they can plug into either end of the keyboard. I suppose it wouldn't be for average users, but I'd be first in line to get one and one or two modules.

"I suppose it wouldn't be for average users"-I think that might surprise you. Perhaps not for those who exclusively use a keyboard for typing. Perhaps that is the average user? But there are so many FPS gamers out there, who already are dishing out huge amounts of money for fancy gaming keyboards, which in general and in fact have actually very little to offer to a FPS gamer. Most of these boards offer little more than backlighting, some extra keys and a fancy design.

I strongly believe that a board like we have been discussing here, is what these FPS gamers would really want if they had the choice, because:.this system would give them a full high quality keyboard for typing,.would offer them a perfect module for true FPS/RPG gaming,.would give them a choice of interesting and useful other modules .and because you can plug in the modules any which way you want, it would cater to right and left handed people equally.

The board should have backlighting, useful media keys, be programmable, and have 1 or 2 usb ports.

I did mark it down to a 8.5 on construction because of the rubber dome keys. One of the great benefits of a mechanical key is that is designed for 50 million keypresses. If the rubber dome keys wear out at 1 million then what is the benefit of having a keyboard that only partially works?

This is arguable actually. Indeed thinking it like that would remove some value to the keyboard, but if you really think about it, the function keys are used much less than most keys on the motherboard, so i highly doubt that they will wear out before lets say, your E or A key, even less your spacebar. I think it was a wise move that probably lowered the cost of the keyboard, making it a bit more affordable.

Gamers don't purchase mechanical keyboards because of how long the keys last. They purchase them because of their response, feel, and closure properties.

These properties are most important on the keys that are used in gaming, and that includes the function and macro keys which are only using rubber cups on this keyboard.

The fact is that there are plenty of other examples of similar keyboards using all mechanical keys, and at the same prices you see the K90 being sold for. So, IF they did this to save some money, that's inexcusable when I can purchase another keyboard with all mechanical keys for the same or lower price (which I and many others have done).

The Corsair k90 keyboard is Ok for features - the backlighting is cool - and the brushed alumninum finish is great -easy to clean. However the biggest drawback to all of the gaming keyboards I have run into is the fact that they are unable to records macros that include mouse clicks - logitech has a gaming keyboard that works with mouse clicks but you have to add them in edit mode after the macro is recorded. Why oh Why will these companies not have a keyboard and mouse combo that will work together so when you record a macro is records both mouse and keyboard on the fly. That would be worth investing some dollars in. Most RPG's MMORPG's and Strategy games use a combination of both mouse and keyboard strokes - Please manufacturers take note and work on fixing this.